The Florida Supreme Court on Monday reprimanded a former Broward County circuit judge because of her conduct while presiding over the case of Parkland school shooter Nikolas Cruz.
The court unanimously issued a one-paragraph reprimand of Elizabeth Scherer, who reached an agreement in June with an investigative panel of the Florida Judicial Qualifications Commission. The agreement called for a reprimand, but the Supreme Court has ultimate authority to determine disciplinary action.
A document filed by the panel said the investigation involved allegations that Scherer “engaged in inappropriate behavior while presiding over the penalty-phase and sentencing proceedings” in the case of Cruz, who was sentenced to life in prison last year for killing 17 students and faculty members at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in 2018.
In part, the panel said Scherer “unduly chastised defense counsel” and “embraced members of the prosecution” after Cruz was sentenced. “The worldwide publicity surrounding the case created stress and tension for all participants,” the panel said in its findings and recommendation of discipline. “However, regardless of the gravity of the accusations or level of attention given a matter, the commission expects that a judge will ensure due process, order and decorum, and act always with dignity and respect to promote the integrity and impartiality of the judiciary. In limited instances during this unique and lengthy case, Judge Scherer allowed her emotions to overcome her judgment.”
Scherer announced in May that she would resign, effective June 30. Unlike at least some other judicial disciplinary cases, Monday’s decision indicated Scherer will not have to appear before the Supreme Court to receive the reprimand. The decision said the court holds that Scherer “shall receive a public reprimand, which will be accomplished by publication of this order.”
–News Service of Florida
Jimbo99 says
Meh, not from the video I watched of it. Sherer did a fine job. Had a guilty mass shooter/murderer in her courtroom. He was getting stacked life imprisonment sentences at the very least for the 20+ counts of guilty pleas. I was rather shocked he got stacked life imprisonments and not death penalty. Seriously, what sense does stacking life imprisonment make other than some kind of closure for victim families for acknowledging each person injured & murdered individually ? Cruz only has but 1 life of his own to offer as restitution. I think the way a slam dunk trial like that wasn’t over on the same day is a travesty. To chastise any judge for the way something was dragged out for as long as it was is indefensible. What is insane about this, they ruined a judge’s career over this case.
Barbara Kamis says
This punk was already convicted. What about his innocent victims? Should he be embraced and maybe kissed as well for what he did? Don’t give him a sense of what he did was OK because it was not OK!